Local Sports

Aces Look to Remain Atop MVC Standings With Trip to UIC

10/17/2025

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – First place in the MVC men’s soccer standings hangs in the balance this weekend when the University of Evansville travels to Chicago to take on the UIC Flames. Evansville currently sits atop the conference table with seven points as the only team with two wins in MVC play, while UIC sits in second place with five points. Kick-off for Saturday’s showdown between the Aces and Flames is set for 7 PM.
Last Time Out
For the first time since 2017, Evansville earned a road result in Des Moines, playing the Drake Bulldogs to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) and the Aces defense recorded their third consecutive shutout in MVC play, marking the first time since 1990 that Evansville has opened their conference schedule with three clean sheets.

Mroz began his night with a leaping stop in the 16^th minute, taking a goal away from the Bulldogs. The sophomore made two more saves throughout the rest of the first period, keeping the match scoreless into the halftime break.

The best chance of the night for the Purple Aces came in the 57^th minute, as Tancredi Fadda (Monza, Italy, University of Milan) ripped a strike from the top of the box, but his shot hit the crossbar and the Aces were left empty-handed.

Mroz made another huge save in the 69^th minute, turning away a shot on goal to keep the clean sheet in tact.

Nacho Garcia (Zaragoza, Spain/UNIR) tallied Evansville’s first shot on goal in the 73^rd minute, but his shot was saved by Drake keeper Tomas Butkovic.

From there, the defensive battle continued, as the night ended in a scoreless draw.

Series History
Saturday marks the fourth all-time meeting between Evansville and UIC, all of which have come since the Flames joined the MVC in 2022, with the Flames holding the series lead at 2-1. The Purple Aces are looking for their first-ever win in Chicago and their second consecutive win in the series, having beaten UIC last season by a score of 3-1 in Evansville.

Scouting UIC
UIC comes into Saturday’s match with a 8-1-3 record and a 1-0-2 mark in MVC play, sitting just behind Evansville in the conference standings with five points. The Flames handed Belmont their first loss of the season on Sunday, taking down the Bruins 2-1 in Nashville.